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Individual Search and Social Networks

Author

Listed:
  • Goyal, Sanjeev
  • Rosenkranz, Stephanie
  • Weitzel, Utz
  • Buskens, Vincent

Abstract

The explosion in online social networks motivates an enquiry into their structure and their welfare effects. A central feature of these networks is information sharing: online social networks lower the cost of getting information from others. These lower costs affect the attractiveness of individual search vis-a-vis a reliance on social networks. The paper reports the findings of an experiment on these effects. Our experiment shows that online networks can have large effects. Information acquisition is more dispersed and it is accompanied by denser social networks. Aggregate investment in information acquisition falls, but information available to individuals remains stable, due to increased networking. The overall effect is a significant increase in individual utility and aggregate welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Goyal, Sanjeev & Rosenkranz, Stephanie & Weitzel, Utz & Buskens, Vincent, 2014. "Individual Search and Social Networks," Climate Change and Sustainable Development 172705, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:feemcl:172705
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.172705
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    Cited by:

    1. Gaudeul, Alexia & Giannetti, Caterina, 2017. "The effect of privacy concerns on social network formation," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 233-253.
    2. Gaudeul, Alexia & Giannetti, Caterina, 2015. "Privacy, trust and social network formation," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 269, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    3. Syngjoo Choi & Edoardo Gallo & Shachar Kariv, 2015. "Networks in the laboratory," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1551, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    4. Boris van Leeuwen & Theo Offerman & Arthur Schram, 2020. "Competition for Status Creates Superstars: an Experiment on Public Good Provision and Network Formation," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 18(2), pages 666-707.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation

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